GM’s Maven car-sharing service to adopt peer-to-peer model

In a recent announcement, Detroit-based automaker General Motors (GM) has revealed that is Maven car-sharing service is set to adopt a peer-to-peer model. Under the model, the owners of GM’s Buick, Chevy and Cadillac vehicles will be able to share their cars with other GM customers.

Highlighting the fact that the peer-to-peer model will enable GM owners to make money of their cars, GM said that the new model will initially be adopted by the company’s Maven car-sharing service in three Midwest cities.

According to the details shared by Maven, the advantage of the peer-to-peer model will be available only to the owners of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles from the 2015 model year or newer models.

Although Maven has not disclosed any information about how the owners of GM cars participating in the new peer-to-peer service will be reimbursed, it is evident that service will enable the GM owners to earn some extra cash. However, the costs of gas, maintenance and other things will have to be covered by the owners, though Maven plans to kick in a $1 million insurance plan.

The owners of qualifying GM cars for the peer-to-peer service will have to modify their cars to allow the OnStar functionality which facilitates a Maven customer in picking up a vehicle. OnStar basically signals the vehicle to unlock its doors for the Maven customer who can then start the car with the smartphone app.

With US electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors having stabilized the monthly deliveries of its vehicles after recent issues, the sales of the company’s electric vehicles (EVs) in Norway have increased almost two-fold as compared to the 2017 figures.